Post by arete on Feb 6, 2014 20:01:06 GMT
Introduction:
When I say the word, “poetry”, what is your immediate gut reaction? Are you excited? Do you groan thinking of English classes of years gone by? Do you think the pastor has gone all artsy and froufrou? Well, I must confess that my favorite form of Bible passage is the form of poetry found in Scripture. I like it because it follows certain rules that make sense and tells me things about God in powerful ways. This form also tells me how God was worshiped by Israel, & really as Scripture, how he should be worshiped now. As we embark on this study of the Psalms, we will have the chance to learn about the wonder & grandeur of God’s person, the relationship he has with Israel as a nation & individual people, and we will learn how to praise him for who he is & who we are in him. So let’s look at a few basic facts about Hebrew Poetry…
Context: Hebrew Poetry
Why know anything about Hebrew poetry? There are several books of the Bible written in poetry either in their entirety or as the bulk of the book. The Psalms are one of these. Also, Hebrew poetry figures big in the NT since the Psalms and other poetic passages are often quoted.
What is different? Hebrew poetry does not typically rhyme even in Hebrew. The goal was not for rhyming sounds, but rhyming ideas. We’ll cover that in a bit.
What are common characteristics of Hebrew Poetry?
This form of poetry has divisions similar to paragraphs. These are called stanzas in English poetry. They are called “strophes” in Hebrew poetry.
Meter: While not possible to see in some English translations, there is a definite pattern of writing that helps us know the individual lines of the poems. Your English translations that offset the verses are very reliable in showing you this pattern.
Parallelism: Hebrew poetry does not rhyme in sound, but in ideas. This is what is meant by parallelism. There are 3 major kinds of parallels in Hebrew poetry. I will point these types out as we look at Psalm 1
1. Synonymous/Compare: this “rhyme” works by having the second line restate the first line with similar or synonymous words.
2. Synthetic/Contribute: this “rhyme” works with the second line restating the first, but also adds some detail to the idea or concept or completes the thought in some way.
3. Antithetic/Contrast: this “rhyme” works by contrasting the second line to the first. Look for the word “but” as a clear sign of this type.
Chiasm: This is a complex scheme where the first and last lines complement one another. The second and next to last complement one another. When we come across this type in our study, we will focus a little more on this scheme.
Acrostics: This is a form where the first letter of every line starts with the same Hebrew character. Psalm 119 is the most famous of this type. Each of the strophes are grouped in 8 verses all beginning with the same letter. Some versions break these up with stating the Hebrew letter as a heading.
Types of Psalms (major categories, not an exhaustive list):
1. Hymns: Songs of praise and thanksgiving to God for who he is and what he has done
2. Penitential: Confesses sorrow for sin, appeals to God for grace & forgiveness
3. Wisdom: General observations on life, especially God and our relationship to him
4. Royal: focuses on the king as a son of David and as God’s instrument to rule his people
5. Messianic: describes some aspect of the Messiah’s person or ministry
6. Imprecatory: calls for God’s judgment against God’s enemies &/or his people’s enemies
7. Lament: expresses grief of one’s condition. Includes the lament, a statement of trust in God and an affirmation of praise to him
The Psalms are the Hebrew hymn book. The Hebrew for this book means “Praises.” These are the songs of corporate praise and worship for Israel. They speak in strong logical and emotional ways about the person of God and the relationship the worshipers have with him.
The Psalms and other poetry have a lot of figurative language. Some of these are much like English figures of speech. Others are very specific to Hebrew. We will tackle these together as we come across them.
Finally, the Psalms can be a great help and comfort. The full range of human experience and emotion are found in these 150 Psalms. We will find expressions of joy, sadness, sorrow for sin, anger, confession, forgiveness and so much more that can touch our lives…
So after all of that…let’s get started with Psalm 1…
Body – Psalm 1 – ESV (Two Ways and Only Two Ways in Life)
The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked
1:1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
This Psalm is an introduction to the entire book. We start right away with a stark contrast between two ways to live, and ultimately, there are only these two ways. The difference between these hinges on the wayfarer’s attitude toward God and His Law. This then is a psalm of wisdom.
The Psalm starts with a blessing (v.1a). The language here is very emphatic. We might also ready this as, “Oh! How blessed is the man!” The idea in the wording is that the Psalm is going to tell us how to be abundantly blessed by God. The message is to all of mankind who will listen.
The Psalm begins defining a blessed life by giving us negative statements (v. 1b). These are synonymous to one another – they compare with one another. This emphasizes the importance of avoiding wicked living. There is also a progression here where sin produces more and more sin in our lives.
1. The godly & blessed life is not marked by living wicked values. What we value and what we believe affects how we live. The one blessed by God lives by God’s values.
2. The godly & blessed life is not marked by a lifestyle of sin. “Standing in the way” marks someone who isn’t just sinning on occasion, but their habits and lifestyle keep them steeped in sin.
3. The godly & blessed life is not found among the scoffers. The sitting here marks one who keeps close company with those who openly reject God and actively blaspheme him.
4. The godly & blessed life infuses all areas of our daily lives. The idea of walking, standing & sitting is a figure of speech that uses a few common everyday actions to stand in for the idea that what we believe is meant to affect everything we do.
5. The godly & blessed life must still remain in the world, without being of the world. This passage does not excuse us from living among and ministering to the lost. It does command that we not be tainted by evil while ministering to those in the grasp of wickedness.
The Psalm moves to contrast positive traits to the negative ones (vv.2-3). Verse two has two synonymous lines emphasizing the relationship of blessedness with God’s word. Verse 3 gives us the consequences or result of godly, blessed living. These lines contain both comparing and contributing lines.
1. The godly, blessed life delights in the law of the Lord (v.2a). The idea here is deep desire and hunger for what God’s word alone can supply. We are to hunger for his Word even more than we need air. Our delight must go beyond knowing about God’s word to delighting in living out his word.
2. The godly, blessed life meditates constantly on the word of God (v. 2b). This meditation is more than reading. It is the constant repetition of Scripture both in our heads and with our lips. We are infused with Scriptural truth and remind ourselves of that truth constantly reaping the benefit of living biblical values.
3. The godly, blessed life is a fruitful life (v. 3a). The picture here is of a tree in the Middle East that is in a garden with irrigation – it is not a wild tree, but a tree tended by a gardener. That Gardener tends, cares, and prunes the tree. As a result of those efforts, the tree grows and produces good fruit. The fruit comes in its season meaning that it comes at the right time and is mature.
4. The godly, blessed life is a prosperous life (v. 3b). The tree is so well tended, that its leaves don’t wither even though the Mid-East is a dry, hostile place. The prosperity here is defined by God. This is not a guarantee of worldly values being prospered. The prosperity is in blessedness and godliness
Illustration:
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 3:7-12) ESV
Application:
A godly life bears fruit. This is not because of the efforts of the person, but is based in the nature of God. When he is in relationship with his child, he will shepherd and guide them into producing fruit. If the child resists, he will be disciplined and should be thankful for it. That pruning is necessary to grow, because if such discipline does not produce fruit, the Lord may decide to discipline us to the point of bringing us home. The fruit is growth and maturity in general, within our own calling and gifting, as well as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
Barren Life v. 4 (also 1b-3)
The wicked life has nothing in common with the blessed life (v. 4a). This says a lot in just a few words. We really have to compare it back to verses1-3.
1. The wicked are marked by wickedness. This is pretty obvious. But we need to note that this means those who are not among the blessed are in fact the wicked. If you are not God’s child, then you are his enemy.
2. The wicked grow in wickedness. The follow evil advice, they stand in sin and they sit among those who scoff at God. The sin in their lives gives birth to more sin and all leading to death.
3. The wicked do not delight in God’s law. They either reject Scripture outright or treat it as a quaint myth. They do not live according to the Bible’s life giving message and principles.
4. They do not produce fruit in keeping with godliness. Even when an unsaved person does something that is moral and compassionate – even when they give to charity they do so in rebellion to God and it is not to their benefit. Every action only adds to their sin.
The wicked life is ultimately empty (v. 4b). The figure of speech here makes it clear that their lives only blow away with nothing lasting to show for it. The chaff is like the silt on the river. When the wind blows, the silt blows away. Without eternal life, the lost are like the chaff. Everything they do is simply silt in the wind.
Illustration:
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Matthew 16:26 ESV
Application:
The wicked life produces nothing. We might look at a wicked man who has amassed wealth on earth. Perhaps he is esteemed by powerful men and countries. Perhaps his children all respect him. But is that a comfort to him when all his works are burned up in judgment? This is the terrible end awaiting those in our families, neighborhoods, towns who have not trusted in Jesus Christ alone for the salvation of their souls. In this, we need to remember that we are not just saved from hell, but to eternal life beginning now. And part of that are the good works God prepared for us to do – including sharing his Son with a lost and dying world.
Consequences of Such Lives vv. 5-6
The psalm moves to a conclusion about these two lives (v. 5).
1. The wicked will not escape judgment (v. 5a). The figure of speech used here is similar to saying, “When they face God at their judgment, they won’t have a leg to stand on.” They will answer to God’s standards that they refused to live by and in fact scoffed at.
2. The wicked will not be counted among the righteous (v. 5b). This contributes to the line above it. The wicked do not attain heaven. It is popular to believe that as long as someone isn’t really, really bad – everyone goes to heaven. The psalmist understands that those who do not belong to God will not go where God’s children go. In other parts of Scripture, we know their destination is hell.
The conclusion is based in the person of God and a relationship with him (v. 6).
1. The Lord knows the way of the righteous (v. 6a). The idea of “know” here is similar to the KJV’s “knowing one’s wife.” An intimate and personal relationship is involved and it originates with God. The person who is truly blessed is blessed because of God’s relationship to him as Father because of the saving work of Jesus Christ.
2. The way of the wicked will perish 9v. 6b). This is a contrasting line. The perishing is the eternal death that stands at stark contrast to the eternal life that the blessed ones have.
The conclusion is a warning that God will judge the lives of all men (v. 6). God’s judgment will be just and holy and he will be fair in a terrible and frightening way. All who insist on standing before God in their wicked rebellion will get exactly what they deserve. Thank God that we do not have to get what we deserve, but that we can receive his grace, his love, and eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Illustration:
The righteous [man]carves his name upon the rock, but the wicked writes his remembrance in the sand… The very "way" of the ungodly shall perish. If it exist in remembrance, it shall be in the remembrance of the bad; for the Lord will cause the name of the wicked to rot, to become a stench in the nostrils of the good, and to be only known to the wicked themselves by its putridity. C.H. Spurgeon
Application:
God knows whether you are righteous or wicked. That can be both comforting and frightening. He does know us all, but he has a special relationship with his own children. All this to be scary when you should be sacred so that you repent often. But also take comfort. Sometimes when we live right we don’t get to see some of the fruit and sometimes our efforts go unnoticed by everyone around us – but your Father knows. He knows what fruit he will mature from you and mature in you and he knows and is pleased when you live right before him.
So What? How then shall we live?
Are you one of the righteous? Then you have a lot to live up to. You must abstain from evil in every area of life. You get no corner in your own heart and mind. Every part of you and your life must be in accord with God’s nature which we know by his word and live by our position in Christ. You will fail. So will I. But you have a relationship with God. He knows you and he knows your sin and he is gracious and merciful. You cannot attain perfection, but you can grow in righteousness by confessing and repenting of sin often and also by knowing God’s will – and the doing it!
What about the wicked? Anyone who is not God’s child is living in wickedness and rebellion to the True God, the One who made them. There is no middle ground. This fact should move us to compassion. We are sinners too. We were once lost in that sin. We have tasted the sweet relief of forgiveness and the blessedness of right relationship with God. We have such good news to share. Are you sharing it?
Nothing less than the fate of souls hangs in the balance. Your soul and every other soul’s eternal destination hinges on a right relationship with God Almighty. Settle the affairs of your soul with God, but do not then sit on your backsides waiting for Rapture. Live righteously before your God and share Him, his word, his warning, and his great salvation with those who desperately need Jesus Christ as Savior.
Benediction
"Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21 NRSV)
When I say the word, “poetry”, what is your immediate gut reaction? Are you excited? Do you groan thinking of English classes of years gone by? Do you think the pastor has gone all artsy and froufrou? Well, I must confess that my favorite form of Bible passage is the form of poetry found in Scripture. I like it because it follows certain rules that make sense and tells me things about God in powerful ways. This form also tells me how God was worshiped by Israel, & really as Scripture, how he should be worshiped now. As we embark on this study of the Psalms, we will have the chance to learn about the wonder & grandeur of God’s person, the relationship he has with Israel as a nation & individual people, and we will learn how to praise him for who he is & who we are in him. So let’s look at a few basic facts about Hebrew Poetry…
Context: Hebrew Poetry
Why know anything about Hebrew poetry? There are several books of the Bible written in poetry either in their entirety or as the bulk of the book. The Psalms are one of these. Also, Hebrew poetry figures big in the NT since the Psalms and other poetic passages are often quoted.
What is different? Hebrew poetry does not typically rhyme even in Hebrew. The goal was not for rhyming sounds, but rhyming ideas. We’ll cover that in a bit.
What are common characteristics of Hebrew Poetry?
This form of poetry has divisions similar to paragraphs. These are called stanzas in English poetry. They are called “strophes” in Hebrew poetry.
Meter: While not possible to see in some English translations, there is a definite pattern of writing that helps us know the individual lines of the poems. Your English translations that offset the verses are very reliable in showing you this pattern.
Parallelism: Hebrew poetry does not rhyme in sound, but in ideas. This is what is meant by parallelism. There are 3 major kinds of parallels in Hebrew poetry. I will point these types out as we look at Psalm 1
1. Synonymous/Compare: this “rhyme” works by having the second line restate the first line with similar or synonymous words.
2. Synthetic/Contribute: this “rhyme” works with the second line restating the first, but also adds some detail to the idea or concept or completes the thought in some way.
3. Antithetic/Contrast: this “rhyme” works by contrasting the second line to the first. Look for the word “but” as a clear sign of this type.
Chiasm: This is a complex scheme where the first and last lines complement one another. The second and next to last complement one another. When we come across this type in our study, we will focus a little more on this scheme.
Acrostics: This is a form where the first letter of every line starts with the same Hebrew character. Psalm 119 is the most famous of this type. Each of the strophes are grouped in 8 verses all beginning with the same letter. Some versions break these up with stating the Hebrew letter as a heading.
Types of Psalms (major categories, not an exhaustive list):
1. Hymns: Songs of praise and thanksgiving to God for who he is and what he has done
2. Penitential: Confesses sorrow for sin, appeals to God for grace & forgiveness
3. Wisdom: General observations on life, especially God and our relationship to him
4. Royal: focuses on the king as a son of David and as God’s instrument to rule his people
5. Messianic: describes some aspect of the Messiah’s person or ministry
6. Imprecatory: calls for God’s judgment against God’s enemies &/or his people’s enemies
7. Lament: expresses grief of one’s condition. Includes the lament, a statement of trust in God and an affirmation of praise to him
The Psalms are the Hebrew hymn book. The Hebrew for this book means “Praises.” These are the songs of corporate praise and worship for Israel. They speak in strong logical and emotional ways about the person of God and the relationship the worshipers have with him.
The Psalms and other poetry have a lot of figurative language. Some of these are much like English figures of speech. Others are very specific to Hebrew. We will tackle these together as we come across them.
Finally, the Psalms can be a great help and comfort. The full range of human experience and emotion are found in these 150 Psalms. We will find expressions of joy, sadness, sorrow for sin, anger, confession, forgiveness and so much more that can touch our lives…
So after all of that…let’s get started with Psalm 1…
Body – Psalm 1 – ESV (Two Ways and Only Two Ways in Life)
The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked
1:1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
This Psalm is an introduction to the entire book. We start right away with a stark contrast between two ways to live, and ultimately, there are only these two ways. The difference between these hinges on the wayfarer’s attitude toward God and His Law. This then is a psalm of wisdom.
The Psalm starts with a blessing (v.1a). The language here is very emphatic. We might also ready this as, “Oh! How blessed is the man!” The idea in the wording is that the Psalm is going to tell us how to be abundantly blessed by God. The message is to all of mankind who will listen.
The Psalm begins defining a blessed life by giving us negative statements (v. 1b). These are synonymous to one another – they compare with one another. This emphasizes the importance of avoiding wicked living. There is also a progression here where sin produces more and more sin in our lives.
1. The godly & blessed life is not marked by living wicked values. What we value and what we believe affects how we live. The one blessed by God lives by God’s values.
2. The godly & blessed life is not marked by a lifestyle of sin. “Standing in the way” marks someone who isn’t just sinning on occasion, but their habits and lifestyle keep them steeped in sin.
3. The godly & blessed life is not found among the scoffers. The sitting here marks one who keeps close company with those who openly reject God and actively blaspheme him.
4. The godly & blessed life infuses all areas of our daily lives. The idea of walking, standing & sitting is a figure of speech that uses a few common everyday actions to stand in for the idea that what we believe is meant to affect everything we do.
5. The godly & blessed life must still remain in the world, without being of the world. This passage does not excuse us from living among and ministering to the lost. It does command that we not be tainted by evil while ministering to those in the grasp of wickedness.
The Psalm moves to contrast positive traits to the negative ones (vv.2-3). Verse two has two synonymous lines emphasizing the relationship of blessedness with God’s word. Verse 3 gives us the consequences or result of godly, blessed living. These lines contain both comparing and contributing lines.
1. The godly, blessed life delights in the law of the Lord (v.2a). The idea here is deep desire and hunger for what God’s word alone can supply. We are to hunger for his Word even more than we need air. Our delight must go beyond knowing about God’s word to delighting in living out his word.
2. The godly, blessed life meditates constantly on the word of God (v. 2b). This meditation is more than reading. It is the constant repetition of Scripture both in our heads and with our lips. We are infused with Scriptural truth and remind ourselves of that truth constantly reaping the benefit of living biblical values.
3. The godly, blessed life is a fruitful life (v. 3a). The picture here is of a tree in the Middle East that is in a garden with irrigation – it is not a wild tree, but a tree tended by a gardener. That Gardener tends, cares, and prunes the tree. As a result of those efforts, the tree grows and produces good fruit. The fruit comes in its season meaning that it comes at the right time and is mature.
4. The godly, blessed life is a prosperous life (v. 3b). The tree is so well tended, that its leaves don’t wither even though the Mid-East is a dry, hostile place. The prosperity here is defined by God. This is not a guarantee of worldly values being prospered. The prosperity is in blessedness and godliness
Illustration:
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 3:7-12) ESV
Application:
A godly life bears fruit. This is not because of the efforts of the person, but is based in the nature of God. When he is in relationship with his child, he will shepherd and guide them into producing fruit. If the child resists, he will be disciplined and should be thankful for it. That pruning is necessary to grow, because if such discipline does not produce fruit, the Lord may decide to discipline us to the point of bringing us home. The fruit is growth and maturity in general, within our own calling and gifting, as well as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
Barren Life v. 4 (also 1b-3)
The wicked life has nothing in common with the blessed life (v. 4a). This says a lot in just a few words. We really have to compare it back to verses1-3.
1. The wicked are marked by wickedness. This is pretty obvious. But we need to note that this means those who are not among the blessed are in fact the wicked. If you are not God’s child, then you are his enemy.
2. The wicked grow in wickedness. The follow evil advice, they stand in sin and they sit among those who scoff at God. The sin in their lives gives birth to more sin and all leading to death.
3. The wicked do not delight in God’s law. They either reject Scripture outright or treat it as a quaint myth. They do not live according to the Bible’s life giving message and principles.
4. They do not produce fruit in keeping with godliness. Even when an unsaved person does something that is moral and compassionate – even when they give to charity they do so in rebellion to God and it is not to their benefit. Every action only adds to their sin.
The wicked life is ultimately empty (v. 4b). The figure of speech here makes it clear that their lives only blow away with nothing lasting to show for it. The chaff is like the silt on the river. When the wind blows, the silt blows away. Without eternal life, the lost are like the chaff. Everything they do is simply silt in the wind.
Illustration:
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Matthew 16:26 ESV
Application:
The wicked life produces nothing. We might look at a wicked man who has amassed wealth on earth. Perhaps he is esteemed by powerful men and countries. Perhaps his children all respect him. But is that a comfort to him when all his works are burned up in judgment? This is the terrible end awaiting those in our families, neighborhoods, towns who have not trusted in Jesus Christ alone for the salvation of their souls. In this, we need to remember that we are not just saved from hell, but to eternal life beginning now. And part of that are the good works God prepared for us to do – including sharing his Son with a lost and dying world.
Consequences of Such Lives vv. 5-6
The psalm moves to a conclusion about these two lives (v. 5).
1. The wicked will not escape judgment (v. 5a). The figure of speech used here is similar to saying, “When they face God at their judgment, they won’t have a leg to stand on.” They will answer to God’s standards that they refused to live by and in fact scoffed at.
2. The wicked will not be counted among the righteous (v. 5b). This contributes to the line above it. The wicked do not attain heaven. It is popular to believe that as long as someone isn’t really, really bad – everyone goes to heaven. The psalmist understands that those who do not belong to God will not go where God’s children go. In other parts of Scripture, we know their destination is hell.
The conclusion is based in the person of God and a relationship with him (v. 6).
1. The Lord knows the way of the righteous (v. 6a). The idea of “know” here is similar to the KJV’s “knowing one’s wife.” An intimate and personal relationship is involved and it originates with God. The person who is truly blessed is blessed because of God’s relationship to him as Father because of the saving work of Jesus Christ.
2. The way of the wicked will perish 9v. 6b). This is a contrasting line. The perishing is the eternal death that stands at stark contrast to the eternal life that the blessed ones have.
The conclusion is a warning that God will judge the lives of all men (v. 6). God’s judgment will be just and holy and he will be fair in a terrible and frightening way. All who insist on standing before God in their wicked rebellion will get exactly what they deserve. Thank God that we do not have to get what we deserve, but that we can receive his grace, his love, and eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Illustration:
The righteous [man]carves his name upon the rock, but the wicked writes his remembrance in the sand… The very "way" of the ungodly shall perish. If it exist in remembrance, it shall be in the remembrance of the bad; for the Lord will cause the name of the wicked to rot, to become a stench in the nostrils of the good, and to be only known to the wicked themselves by its putridity. C.H. Spurgeon
Application:
God knows whether you are righteous or wicked. That can be both comforting and frightening. He does know us all, but he has a special relationship with his own children. All this to be scary when you should be sacred so that you repent often. But also take comfort. Sometimes when we live right we don’t get to see some of the fruit and sometimes our efforts go unnoticed by everyone around us – but your Father knows. He knows what fruit he will mature from you and mature in you and he knows and is pleased when you live right before him.
So What? How then shall we live?
Are you one of the righteous? Then you have a lot to live up to. You must abstain from evil in every area of life. You get no corner in your own heart and mind. Every part of you and your life must be in accord with God’s nature which we know by his word and live by our position in Christ. You will fail. So will I. But you have a relationship with God. He knows you and he knows your sin and he is gracious and merciful. You cannot attain perfection, but you can grow in righteousness by confessing and repenting of sin often and also by knowing God’s will – and the doing it!
What about the wicked? Anyone who is not God’s child is living in wickedness and rebellion to the True God, the One who made them. There is no middle ground. This fact should move us to compassion. We are sinners too. We were once lost in that sin. We have tasted the sweet relief of forgiveness and the blessedness of right relationship with God. We have such good news to share. Are you sharing it?
Nothing less than the fate of souls hangs in the balance. Your soul and every other soul’s eternal destination hinges on a right relationship with God Almighty. Settle the affairs of your soul with God, but do not then sit on your backsides waiting for Rapture. Live righteously before your God and share Him, his word, his warning, and his great salvation with those who desperately need Jesus Christ as Savior.
Benediction
"Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21 NRSV)
